Dog food is a delicate subject. Given all of the past incidents involving toxins found in different products, owners have every right to worry about what they are feeding their pets. Many consider their dogs as part of the family so anything less than ideal may be unacceptable. They want only the best for their precious companions. This is why a movement that champions the use of raw dried natural dog food was born. Proponents argue that dogs need to eat what they evolved to consume before humans made packaged products for them. It is, in essence, the pet equivalent of the caveman diet.

What is a raw food diet?

For the sake of clarity, we should define exactly what we mean by raw food. Dogs used to feed on other animals including the muscles and bones before they became domesticated. That is why they have such strong jaws and teeth. They would also feed on vegetable scraps if they could find these. The movement seeks to imitate this type of diet by preparing them at home or by buying dried natural products on the supermarket. Preparation can be labor-intensive so a lot of people opt for the latter as they can stock up on dog food and give these whenever needed.

What are the potential benefits?

When you switch from traditional kibbles to natural dog food, you might see several changes in your pets. Many owners notice that their dogs develop shinier coats and healthier skin. They seem to be glowing because of their improved appearance. They also tend to have cleaner teeth so there will be less dental issues. They will have smaller stools which helps them pass waste regularly instead of feeling constipated all the time. The dogs will have noticeably higher energy levels as they are getting more nutrients from their new diet.

What are the potential risks?

One the other hand, critics say that feeding them raw food can be dangerous. Raw meat have bacteria that could threaten the health of dogs and humans. This is the very reason why we cook meats before eating them. We grill, we fry, and we stew to heat up the meats and kill harmful microorganisms. They also say that having too much meat may result in an unbalanced diet where they have a lot of protein and not much of other nutrients. This may not be good for the pets in the long run. Eating whole bones may also lead to issues such as choking, internal puncture, and teeth breakage.

Raw dried natural dog food certainly has its merits but it might be prudent to add variety for balanced meals.